(Yicai Global) Jan. 18 -- China United Network Communication Group, the country's third-largest mobile network operator, has appointed a new director and general manager from the ranks of one of its main competitors.

Chen Zhongyue will fill the position that Li Guohua vacated when retiring last March, the Beijing-based firm said in a statement today.

Before accepting the offer, Chen was the deputy general manager of rivaling China Telecom. It is usual to see executives jump from one position to another between China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom.

Born in 1971, Chen had been working for China Telecom since he graduated from the Shanghai School of Posts and Telecommunication, later merged with East China University of Science and Technology.

The No. 3 phone carrier has been able to increase its gains despite its tight sales. China Unicom's net profit rose by 22 percent to CNY5 billion (USD770.8 million) in 2019 from 2018, according to its earnings report. However, its revenue fell 0.1 percent to CNY290.5 billion (USD44.8 billion).

Editor: Emmi Laine